Stewardship on America’s private lands

With 70 percent of U.S. lands in private hands and many of our best hunt and fish opportunities occurring there, investing in voluntary conservation on working lands safeguards access, strengthens habitat and water quality, and ensures resilient landscapes.

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TRCP in Your Region The Southeast

From the longleaf pine savannas of the Coastal Plain to cold trout streams of the southern Appalachians, the Southeast is home to some of North America’s most ecologically rich hunting and fishing country. Bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, whitetail deer, and black bears roam landscapes shaped by fire and water, while largemouth bass, striped bass, and coastal red drum draw anglers to the region’s rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries. Across this deeply outdoor-oriented region, hunting and fishing are not just pastimes — they are a way of life embedded in the culture and economy of the South.

Taking action on Southeast issues

What you can do

Longleaf pine restoration, natural infrastructure enhancement in the Mississippi River Basin, and access to private and public lands are central to TRCP’s work in the region. We advocate for the conservation programs and land management practices that support bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, and deer, and we work to protect the river flows and coastal estuaries that sustain world-class fishing from the Chesapeake Bay to the barrier islands off South Carolina. Our team engages state and federal agencies, private landowners, and conservation partners to advance policies that keep the Southeast’s outdoor heritage strong.

But we cannot do this work alone — select an issue below to get involved.

Public Land Access

Protect hunter and angler access - Speak up against efforts to transfer or sell off federal public lands.

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Chronic Wasting Disease

CWD has spread rapidly among wild deer and elk populations, particularly in the last ten years, and it threatens the very future of conservation funding in America.

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Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Farm Bill Conservation Programs provide $6 billion in conservation funding annually to improve habitat, access, and soil and water quality on private lands across the U.S. Explore our model farm to learn how each conservation program benefits landowners, wildlife, and sportsmen and women. Click a yellow beacon to get started.

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Boots on the Ground

We hire experts who live, work, hunt, and fish in these important landscapes. Our region-based staff intimately understand the issues affecting fish and wildlife habitats across the Southeast’s diverse forests, wetlands, and coastal waters. Meet our team below.

TRCP Experts in the Southeast Region

Jamelle Ellis

Senior Scientist

Jamelle Ellis joined the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in 2022. Jamelle spent the last three years as an environmental sustainability consultant specializing in developing mitigation strategies and environmental science research models for public and private organizations. She has more than 20 years of research experience focused on environmental contaminant delineation, exposures, and human health impacts. Jamelle has a broad range...

Al Clark

Chief Development Officer

Al Clark is our chief development officer. He brings significant conservation experience, most recently serving the National Wild Turkey Federation as its national director of development. Al is a native of upstate South Carolina and has over 21 years of experience in development with 18 years focused on major gift fundraising. He started in development in 2004 at Furman University,...

Ryan DuLaney

Lower/Middle Mississippi River Representative

Ryan DuLaney joined TRCP as our Lower/Middle Mississippi River Representative in February 2026. Ryan previously served as General Manager at Grindle Slough Farms in Arkansas where, since 2015, he led habitat restoration efforts and managed a comprehensive waterfowl hunting program for Turner Enterprises Inc. In addition to his work at Grindle Slough, Ryan has partnered with conservation-minded landowners across the...

In the Arena

Saravanakumar “Sav” Sankaran

Asheville, NC

The son of immigrants, Sav Sankaran was introduced to hunting and fishing by a friend's family while growing up in Pennsylvania. These early experiences set the foundation for a life of chasing trout and birds with good friends behind good dogs. Working for over a decade in the outdoor retail industry, Sankaran has the expertise and passion to be a loud and persistent advocate for conservation and strives to make the outdoors a more welcoming place for all.

Read their profile

Stay Informed

Southeast News & Resources

State Funding Decline Threatens Tennessee Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

Preventing the Decline of a Top Louisiana Fishery

TRCP’s Lead Scientist on Why Everglades Restoration Matters

New TRCP Staff Member to Focus on Mississippi River Basin Conservation

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Join the TRCP, a community of hunters and anglers advocating for commonsense solutions to our most pressing natural resource challenges.

Hunting & Fishing Access

MAPping Public Access